The Mastectomy Store Blog

Why wear a breast form?

After mastectomy, breast-conserving surgery or even reconstruction, you might choose to wear a breast form (breast prosthesis) or shaper, to help you feel like yourself again.Your goal when being fitted for a breast form is to create a natural body silhouette so that you feel balanced, comfortable and confident. High quality silicone forms behave like a real breast, moving naturally when you walk and lie down. But breast forms aren’t just cosmetic; there are important medical reasons to wear them. By compensating for the weight of a real breast, a properly fitting breast form helps prevent problems like lymphedema, bad posture or shoulder and neck problems. Breast form features and capabilities vary; depending on your lifestyle and activities, you might choose:

Silicone breast forms with an adhesive back

Lightweight breast form options

A unique Swim form for water activities

Breast forms with soft gel-back layers to adapt to scars or tissue

Temperature equalizing breast forms or

Partial breast shapers.

Comfort should be your main consideration, and with the innovative technologies available, the broad choice includes special shapes, smart options like air-flow channels and even temperature regulation in some breast forms. Finding a breast form that feels comfortable to you is definitely possible, whatever your needs. With the help of a certified fit specialist, you can try on and feel different types of breast form to see which ones works best for you.

​How does a breast form fit?

To securely hold a breast form or symmetry shaper, there are specially designed bras with integral pockets. While still beautiful to look at, these bras have clever features like a slightly higher neckline and underarm and soft, padded straps. You may also choose a self-adhesive breast form, but we recommend wearing it with a bra, as well. Swimming is particularly good exercise for recovery after breast surgery, so we also design special swimwear with similar features as our bras. Pockets securely hold your breast forms in place and allow comfortable movement and a natural silhouette.

Wearing the right breast form can make a big difference in how you feel every day. ​

Amoena breast forms are designed for optimum comfort and performance. They’re designed to fit into your life and restore your body confidence. For the perfect fit, it’s important that you consult individually with a trained, certified mastectomy fitter in a specialist shop, clinic or hospital. Your fitter’s experience and knowledge can help you identify your unique needs and then choose the right breast form. If its advice your looking for then please call us at the Mastectomy Store on 0418 626527 or e-mail sales@themastectomystore.com.au

For Spring 2018, Amoena has harnessed the cultural climate of women empowering women all over the world, using dramatic colours and textures to illustrate the influence of women through the ages.

The design leader in mastectomy lingerie, swimwear, active wear and tops for women who have experienced breast cancer, Amoena knows how women have shaped history — and continue to influence the world — and what that means for brands who succeed.

“We’re tapped into this current movement where women are holding the world’s businesses and civic leaders to a much higher standard” explains Dirk Müller, Senior VP for Pocketed Apparel at Amoena.

“We’ve long championed the women who wear our products,” he says, “and the fact that women are standing up to be heard more than ever before gives us further resolve to support them in every way.” The company’s history as a pioneer in supporting women after breast cancer creates a particularly strong foundation for such a mission.New, limited edition pocketed lingerie, swimwear, active wear and tops offered this Spring will entice shoppers who wear breast prostheses — and those who don’t.The designs, inspired by global culture — both the buzz of our media age and the earthy, natural heart of humanity — are on par with the world’s top fashion houses.

Information on the program and how to claim a reimbursement.

This national program aims to improve the quality of life of women who have undergone breast surgery (including a full or partial mastectomy or a lumpectomy) as a result of breast cancer.

The program, which commenced on 1 December 2008, provides reimbursements of up to $400 for both new and replacement external breast prostheses for eligible women who have had breast surgery as a result of breast cancer.

All women who are permanent residents of Australia, have a current Medicare entitlement and have had breast surgery (including a full or partial mastectomy or a lumpectomy) as a result of breast cancer, are eligible to claim the reimbursement. The surgery may be recent or in the past. Women who currently receive financial assistance from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) should continue to claim their entitlement through DVA.

The amount that can be claimed is up to $400 for each new or replacement external breast prosthesis, depending on the cost of the prosthesis, and any other financial assistance already obtained (including any rebates obtained from a private health fund). The $400 limit applies to each prosthesis for each breast.

If a claim has previously been made under this program, a subsequent reimbursement can be claimed on prostheses purchased no earlier than two years from the date of last purchase. This applies to each prosthesis for each breast.

More information about the program, including eligibility criteria, a fact sheet and claim form, can be accessed on the Department of Human Services website, or by calling the Department of Human Services on 132 011 (call charges may apply), or visiting a Medicare office.

​Our culture views breasts as sexual and feminine. Some women find them integral to their sense of womanhood and identity. Losing one or both can therefore be upsetting, leaving some with a real sense of loss both in terms of shape and femininity. A beautiful mastectomy bra can really work wonders – allowing you to regain the natural shape of your breast or compensate for any missing breast tissue, with the simple yet discrete inclusion of pockets - specifically designed to easily and securely hold breast forms (breast prosthesis) in place. Mastectomy lingerie is an integral part of the post-surgery recovery process. Further down the line pocketed swimwear and loungewear can also form an important part of a breast cancer survivor’s everyday life.Whether your surgery was months or years ago, a trained mastectomy fitter can help you find lingerie that is comfortable, looks good, and feels sexy too. “My mission is to help women feel great and say ‘hurray’ on the inside, outside and underneath,” says Kim Caldwell, a New York City-based bra fitter who has years of experience and expertise in helping women select undergarments for post-mastectomy. “The sharpest tool I have to help a woman feel good about her body post-mastectomy is bra fitting,” she adds. And that’s not a challenge anymore. “Today’s mastectomy bras are so gorgeous that any woman – mastectomy, lumpectomy, natural – would feel her very best wearing them. And no one will ever be able to tell” that she’s wearing post-mastectomy lingerie.Mastectomy fitters undergo specialized training and often are required to meet specific certification criteria. Some can also help you pick out breast forms. Typically, you need to make an appointment, which can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.

​What Happens At A Fitting?

​Initially your doctor may need to give you the go-ahead to get be fitted for a mastectomy bra. These fittings typically take place either in a medical setting, such a hospital, or in a lingerie store. Wherever you go for your fitting, you should bring your breast form with you – if you have one – and one or two of your favourite tops. That way, you can make sure the bra you choose will work for you in what you’re used to wearing. “You should expect to look good in anything you wear – within reason of the surgical site,” If you bring your favourite bra, your fitter can check it out, too. Sometimes the best choice is the bra you already own.“You can also bring a family member or friend,” suggests Clare Gibson, fitting consultant at Amoena’s showroom in Hampshire, England. “The fitting room can be a very intimate space to share with a fitter you barely know,” agrees Caldwell, and it can help to have emotional support.Fitters typically start by asking what you need: Are you looking for a compression bra (for right after surgery), or a pocketed bra? Are you going to have radiation, which can change your chest wall? (Most fitters recommend waiting until after radiation to get new bras.) What are you looking for in a bra: Are you shopping for the gym or for a special occasion?Your fitter will measure the circumference of your ribcage and, if relevant, your remaining breast, which “serves as a template,” says Poss. She may pick out several styles and let you try them on to check for weight, shape and fullness, Gibson adds.

​Making a Difference

The right lingerie – and the right fitter – can help a woman come to terms with her new post-mastectomy body, says Caldwell. She tells about a woman who’d undergone a bilateral mastectomy and was very nervous about the fitting. When Caldwell asked what type of bra she wanted, she whispered, “something pretty.” Caldwell picked out a few, but it was the soft one with the deep plunge, delicate straps, and red floral applique that did the trick. “It’s beautiful. I’m beautiful,” the woman gasped. “I just never thought I could feel like a woman again. Thank you!” Both Caldwell and the client ended up in tears of joy.Even if the response is more subtle, a fitter can always tell how a woman is reacting. “When a woman comes in, she might be feeling tense and be slightly hunched over,” Gibson explains. “When she leaves, she walks out with her head held high.”

How to Become a Mastectomy Fitter

If you’re thinking about becoming a mastectomy fitter, it helps to be comfortable with women’s bodies, in all shapes and sizes, with and without scars. Compassion and a wonderful bedside manner are key. “A woman may be embarrassed about her body,” says Gibson. “You need to be matter-of-fact and reassuring.” You also need to be a good problem-solver, says Caldwell. You never know who’s going to walk in the door.A medical background can be helpful but it’s not essential. Poss was a respiratory therapist and Gibson trained as a massage therapist and both have found it useful. Caldwell, who came to the field from lingerie, has found that the training process gave her all the technical knowledge she needs. Enthusiasm and compassion, she asserts, are harder to teach.A compassionate and competent mastectomy fitter can go a long way toward helping women learn to love their bodies again.